Koch Gallery Opens At MFA

The Museum of Fine Arts unveils a newly designed European gallery Saturday after a summer's long renovation.

Visitors familiar with the MFA's Koch Gallery know it's a grand space devoted to 16th- and 17th-century paintings by European masters.

Now its walls are covered in rich, red damask, and the artworks are bathed in new LED lighting.

MFA curator Ronni Baer is most excited about the layout of the room. She said alcoves help put the Flemmish, French and Italian paintings in better historical context. Now the gallery also displays some pieces more effectively.

"The idea of being able to feature some of the great masterpieces of our collection, like our two paintings by Poussin and our great painting by Claude Laurent, it just makes my heart sing."

Some of the works, including some Italian tapestries, haven't been seen by the public in decades.